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Ken's suspension order is quashed Ken's suspension order thrown out
(40 minutes later)
Ken Livingstone's four-week suspension from the mayor's office has been quashed by a High Court judge.Ken Livingstone's four-week suspension from the mayor's office has been quashed by a High Court judge.
He was suspended for his remarks to a Jewish journalist likening him to a Nazi concentration camp guard.He was suspended for his remarks to a Jewish journalist likening him to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
The exchange with Oliver Finegold happened as the mayor left an event in February last year.The exchange with Oliver Finegold happened as the mayor left an event in February last year.
The mayor was challenging a decision by the Adjudication Panel for England that his comments breached the Greater London Authority's code of conduct.The mayor was challenging a decision by the Adjudication Panel for England that his comments breached the Greater London Authority's code of conduct.
At the High Court, Mr Justice Collins said the suspension would be overturned, regardless of whether or not the mayor won his appeal against the Adjudication Panel for England's finding.At the High Court, Mr Justice Collins said the suspension would be overturned, regardless of whether or not the mayor won his appeal against the Adjudication Panel for England's finding.
Oliver Finegold allegedly swore at the mayor
The judge said: "I have made it clear the suspension will be quashed whatever I decide on whether the Panel's finding was correct."The judge said: "I have made it clear the suspension will be quashed whatever I decide on whether the Panel's finding was correct."
He reserved his final judgment on Mr Livingstone's appeal to a later date, saying: "It is not an easy case. There are certain ramifications, whatever I decide, which will affect other matters."
Flawed decision
During the two-day hearing, Mr Livingstone's lawyers argued the panel's decision, made in February, was legally flawed on a number of grounds.
This included the fact the Mayor had not been acting in his official capacity at the time of the incident.
The panel's ruling was defended by the Ethical Standards Officer, who referred the case to the disciplinary body.
The ESO contended the Mayor's arguments were over-complicated and "trivialised" the code of conduct and there was no basis for the judge substituting his own judgment for that of the panel.
If the appeal fails, Mr Livingstone will be responsible for paying his own legal costs, estimated at £80,000, although he will continue to be paid.